Internal combustion burner-nozzle construction



c. .1. STALEGO ,229

INTERNAL COMBUSTION BURNER-NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION Nov. 5, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 23, 1965 ATTO INVENTOR. O/A/PL 55 J 574L560 BY 2 RNEYS I Nov. 5, 1968 c. J. STALEGO INTERNAL COMBUSTION BURNER-NOZZLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 23, 1965 J Ym m United at s Patel 'Q ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a nozzle construction for an. internal combustion burner of a character providing a high temperature gaseous blast for attenuating glass to fibers, the nozzle construction being of nonferrous metal, such as aluminum or aluminum alloys, fashioned with an elongated blast-delivery orifice with acooling channel surrounding the orifice and accommodating cooling fluid to rapidly dissipate heat from the nozzle construction.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 515,922, filed Dec. 23, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a nozzle construction for an internal combustion burner and method of cooling the nozzle construction, the invention more especially relating to a nozzle construction for a combustion burner wherein. a combustible mixture is burned under confined conditions and the gases of combustion projected through a nozzle or orifice as a high velocity, high temperature blast of a character suitable for attenuating heat-softenable mineral materials, such as glass, to fine fibers.

Internal combustion burners have been heretofore employed for producing high velocity blasts of hightem- ICC ' Another object of the invention is the provision of a nozzle construction for an internal combustion burner fashioned ofmetal having high thermal conductivity to reduce thermal gradients in the metal or alloy of the' nozzle construction whereby to substantiallyeliminate warpage of the'noz'zle construction and prolong the useful life 'of the nozzle construction. p

Another object of the invention resides in' a method of rapidly transferring heat from a nozzle construction through an arrangement of channels accommodating circulating cooling fluid in a manner enabling the use of a metal or metal alloy having a comparatively low melting temperature and high thermal conductivity characteristics for the nozzle construction wherein a substantially uniform thickness of metal is provided between the cooling channels and the surfaces defining'the orifice-through pe'rature gases of combustion for fiber attenuating purposes. A burner of this character is fashioned with a com- .bustion chamber into which a combustible mixture is delivered and the mixture substantially completely burned Within the combustion chamber. The burning gases undergo great expansion and are projected as a high velocity blast through an orifice in a nozzle construction forming a component of the burner.

Nozzle constructions heretofore utilized have been fashioned of ferrous metals or ferrous metal alloys such as cast iron or steel and such nozzle constructions have been provided with channels to accommodate circulating cooling fluid. Nozzle constructions fashioned of ferrous metal or ferrous alloys have'comparatively short life. The com bustion gases delivered through the nozzles are at temperatures of three thousand degreesF. or more and the cooling fluid, such as water, circulated through the cooling channels causes very high temperature gradients within the metal constituting the nozzleconstruction resulting in severe warpage and spreading of the walls defining the gas discharge orifice and in many instances the nozzle walls become fractured.

The low thermal conductivity of the ferrous metal retards heat dissipation promoting severe expansion and contraction resulting in warpage or fracture, thus rendering the nozzle construction unsatisfactory for fiber-attenuating purposes. V I A V The present invention embraces an orifice construction for an internal combustion burner fashioned of metal or metal alloy having high thermal conductivity characteristics whereby heat is rapidly dissipated through a'cool-' ing medium in a manner to prevent or minimize warpage of the nozzle construction and eliminate fracture of the nozzle construction.

which the intensely hot gases'of combu's'tiori'are' delivered to effect uniform dissipation of heat and therebyprevent or minimize warpage or spreading of the'wall surfaces of the orifice;

Further objects and advantages are within the'sco'pe of; this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operationand function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

FIGURE- 1 is a semi-diagrammatic elevational view illustrating a combustion burner and nozzle construction of the invention for producing a gaseous blast usable for attenuating heat-softenable material to fibers;

FIGURE 2" is a front elevational view of the nozzle construction of the invention illustrating the method and arrangement for circulating heat-absorbing fluid adjacent the delivery orifice for the gases providing the blast;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view through the orifice construction and combustion burner, the view being-taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view illustrating a portion of the burner and orifice construction.

The burner and nozzle arrangement of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE 1 as utilized for producing an intensely hot, high velocity gaseous blast for attenuating heat-softenable material, such as glass, to fibers by engaging linear bodies or primary filaments of glass with the gaseous blast.

Referring initially to FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a portion of a melting furnace or tank 10 in which gla'ss batch or other heat-softenable mineral material is reduced to a molten or softened state by the application of heat. The molten glass from the furnace 10 flows into a channel in a forehearth 12 connected with the furnace. Secured to the floor of the forehearth is a feeder or bushing 15 having a plurality of projections 16, each projection having an orifice through which flows a stream 18 of glass.

The streams 18 are solidified into primary filaments or primaries 20 which are attenuated by rotating feed rolls 22, the latter being driven by motive means (not shown) in a conventional manner. The filaments 20 engage a guide roll or comb roll 24 prior to their entrance into' the nip region of the feed rolls 22.

Disposed beneath the feed rolls 22 are guide plates 26 and 27 provided with grooves or recesses (not shown) accommodating the primaries 20 so that the primaries are properly spaced as they enter a high velocity gaseous blast from an orifice means associated with an internal combustion burner 30, the heat of the gases softening the glass of the primaries and the velocity of the blast attenuating the primaries to fine fibers 28. The combustion burner illustrated in FIGURE 3 is inclusive of a substantially rectangular-shaped metal shell 32 provided at it s forward end with upwardly and downwardly extending flanges 33 and 34.

The burner construction 30 is provided with an orifice means or nozzle construction 36 of the invention and which will be hereinafter further described. The rear end of the burner housing or shell 32 is connected with a base member or fitting 38 fashioned with a boss portion 40 having a threaded opening to accommodate a pipe or duct 42 for conveying a combustible mixture of fuel gas and air from a supply to a manifold chamber 44 formed in the member 38. Disposed within the metal housing 32 is a lining 46 of high temperature resistant refractory which defines a combustion zone or chamber 48, the latter being of generally rectangular cross section.

The combustion chamber is provided with a rear wall 50 of refractory, and disposed in an opening in the rear wall 50 is a member or fitting 52 of refractory or other suitable high temperature resistant material. The member 52 is fashioned with a plurality of small channels or passages 54 through which the combustible mixture from the manifold 44 is delivered into the combustion chamber 48. The channeled member 52 provides a fire screen to prevent ignition of the combustible mixture in the manifold 44.

Any suitable combustible gas, such as propane, methane or a mixture thereof or other fuel gas may be employed as the combustible of the fuel gas and air mixture which is delivered into the combustion chamber 48 under comparatively low pressure, for example 3 to 15 pounds per square inch.

The orifice plate or nozzle construction 36, shown in detail in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4, is fashioned of a metal or alloy having comparatively high heat conducting characteristics and is formed with a body portion 56 having outwardly extending flanges 58 and 59 which engage and mate with the flanges 33 and 34 on the burner housing 32. The pairs of mating flanges are secured together by bolts 60 extending through registering openings in the flanges. The body 56 is fashioned with reinforcing ribs or webs 57. The refractory lining 46 extends-forwardly of the housing 32 into the body portion 56, as shown in FIGURE 3.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the nozzle construction 36 is of substantially rectangular configuration elongated in a horizontal direction and the combustion chamber 48 is likewise elongated in a horizontal direction. The nozzle construction 36 is formed with an orifice, passage or nozzle 62 horizontally elongated as shown in FIGURE 2, the nozzle preferably having end regions 63 of greater depth than the major area of the nozzle to compensate for the increased frictional resistance to gas flow at the end regions of the nozzle so that the gases of the blast move at substantially uniform velocity throughout the full length of the nozzle 62.

The nozzle or orifice 62 provides an outlet for the burner chamber 48 through which the intensely hot burned gases are projected as a high velocity gaseous blast for engagement with the primaries 20 for softening the primaries and attenuating them to fibers in the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 1. The length of the orifice 62 is many times its depth, the ratio of its length to its depth being dependent upon the combustion capacity of the burner, the amount and pressure of mixture delivered into the burner chamber and the velocity desired for the gaseous blast.

As a typical example, the nozzle or orifice may be of a length of twelve inches or more and a depth of onehalf inch or more excepting the end regions 63 which are of increased depth. It has been found that the length and width of the orifice may be varied, but the length of the orifice should preferably be within a range of from twenty to fifty times the depth of the orifice at the region between the end regions 63.

The entrance region of the orifice 62 is defined by surfaces 64 which are aligned'with surfaces of the refractory lining 46 to provide an unobstructed path for movement of the hot gases or products of combustion from zone 48 into the orifice 62.

The body 56 of the orifice construction 36 is fashioned with duct or channel means 68 which includes a horizontal channel 70 above and parallel with the orifice 62, and lower channels 72 and 74 which are connected adjacent the ends of the orifice with the channel 70 by connecting channels 75 and 76. The lower channels 72 and 74 are respectively connected adjacent the central region of the body with fluid conveying tubes and 82 providing inlet and outlet means for the channel means 68 through which water or other coolant fluid is circulated to convey heat away from the orifice construction.

One of the tubes may be connected with a coolant supply and the other arranged to convey coolant away from the orifice construction. The cooling fluid is continuously circulated through the channel means by pump means of conventional construction (not shown) and the cooling fluid delivered through a heat transfer means (not shown) of conventional construction to remove the heat absorbed from the orifice construction 36 and the cooled fluid recirculated through the channel means. If desired, the inlet of the channel means 68 may be connected with a domestic water supply system as a source of cooling liquid.

The orifice plate is molded or cast of metal or metal alloy having high thermal or heat conducting characteristics or properties. It has been found that the orifice plate 36 molded or cast of aluminum or aluminum alloy is satisfactory as aluminum or aluminum alloy and has high heat-conducting properties, much higher than the heat-conducting properties of ferrous metal or ferrous metal alloys.

The temperature of the gases of combustion delivered through the orifice 62 are in the order of 3,000" F. or more, substantially above the melting point of aluminum or aluminum alloy, but the circulating heat absorbing or cooling fluid, such as water, moving continuously through the cooling channel means or system 68, conveys away or transfers heat at such a high rate as to maintain the temperature of the orifice plate or construction 36 well below the melting point of the aluminum or aluminum alloy.

It will be noted from FIGURES 2 and 3 that the thickness of metal between the walls defining the combustion gas delivery orifice 62 and the ducts of the cooling channel system 68 is substantially uniform. This arrangement provides for uniform cooling of the wall regions defining the orifice 62 so that a substantially uniform temperature gradient is maintained throughout the regions of the metal defining the orifice 62 and containing the coolant channels.

It is found that heat is transferred or conducted away from the metal at the region of the orifice 62 at a suffi ciently rapid rate to maintain a comparatively low temperature gradient in the metal or alloy of the orifice construction with the result that there is no warpage of the walls defining the orifice 62 and no cracking or fracturing of the metal. The orifice construction fashioned of aluminum or aluminum alloy costs less than ferrous metal constructions and has been found to have a useful life many times that of similar constructions heretofore made of ferrous metal such as cast iron, stainless steel or the like or orifice constructions of refractory materials.

It is found that an orifice construction of aluminum per so may be utilized or aluminum alloys may be employed for the orifice construction. Fo rexample, an aluminum alloy of about ninety-five percent aluminum and about five percent silicon provides a satisfactory material which alloy may be more easily molded or cast than pure aluminum. The aluminum may be alloyed with other elements such as magnesium, copper, zinc or the like and secure satisfactory results. The orifice construction may be of copper, magnesium or similar nonferrous metal but the cost is much higher.

While aluminum and the above-mentioned alloys of aluminum have melting points well below the temperature of the intensely hot gases of combustion delivered from the combustion chamber 48 through the elongated orifice or nozzle 62, the high thermal or heat conductivity of the aluminum or aluminum alloy provides for the rapid transmission of heat into the circulating coolant that warpage of the nozzle construction and fracture of the body 56 are eliminated.

If desired, the interior surfaces of the orifice construction may be plated or coated with other metals such as gold, chromium, rhodium or other similar surface treatment provided to reduce heat losses.

Any suitable coolant may be employed, such as water, air or refrigerant, but water is preferred because of its high heat-absorbing properties and comparatively low cost.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and diflerent arrangements may be made other than as herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

I claim:

1. An orifice construction for an internal combustion burner having a flanged metal housing lined with high temperature resistant refractory providing a combustion chamber in which a combustible mixture is continuously burned under confined conditions and the intensely hot burned gases projected as a high velocity blast through the orifice construction and engaging a plurality of bodies of glass for attenuating the bodies into fibers, said orifice construction comprising a member of cast aluminum and of rectangular configuration, the central region of the member having an elongated orifice defined by substantially parallel surfaces, the end regions of the orifice being of greater depth than the central region, said member having re'arwardly extending upper and lower wall regions, outwardly extending flanges integrally joined with the upper and lower wall regions adapted to mate with the flange on the metal housing of the burner, said flanges accommodating means for securing the orifice construction to the flange of the burner housing, a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs disposed above and below the orifice and integrally joined with the rearwardly extending surfaces and the outwardly extending flanges, the length of the orifice being in a range of from twenty to fifty times its width at the central region, the mid region of said member having a boss portion provided with inlet and outlet passages, a channel in said region surrounding the orifice with the ends of the channel in registration with the inlet and outlet passages in the boss portion, said channel adapted to accommodate circulating cooling fluid for maintaining the orifice construction at a safe operating temperature.

2. An orifice construction for an internal combustion burner having a flanged metal housing lined with high temperature resistant refractory providing a combustion chamber in which a combustible mixture is continuously O burned under confined conditions and the intensely hot burned gases projected as a high velocity blast through the orifice construction and engaging a plurality of bodies of glass for attenuating the bodies into fibers, said orifice construction comprising a substantially rectangular member of aluminum, the central region of the member having an elongated orifice defined by substantially parallel surfaces, the end regions of the orifice being of greater depth than the central region, said member having rearwardly diverging upper and lower wall regions, outwardly extending flanges integrally joined with the upper and lower wall regions adapted to mate with the flange on the metal housing of the burner, said flanges accommodating means for securing the orifice construction to the burner housing, a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs disposed above and below the orifice and integrally joined with the diverging upper and lower wall regions and the outwardly extending flanges, the length of the orifice being in a range of from twenty to fifty times its width at the central region, said member having inlet and outlet passages, and channel means in said member surrounding the orifice with the ends of the channel means in registration with the inlet and outlet passages, said channel means adapted to accommodate circulating cooling fluid.

3. The orifice construction according to claim 1 fashioned of cast aluminum alloyed with an element selected from a group comprising silicon, copper, zinc and magnesium.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,310,733 7/1919 Bore et al. 239-l XR 1,908,023 5/1933 Kempe 148 XR 2,717,416 9/1955 Fletcher.

2,935,841 5/1960 Myers 60266 XR 3,002,224 10/1961 Stalego.

3,194,191 7/1965 Hawk 158-27.4 XR 3,199,979 8/1965 Martin 75148 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner. H. B. RAMEY, Assistant Examiner. 

